Spinal Cord Injuries
Posted By San Diego Injury Attorney on Oct 22, 2009 5:55pm PDT
Damage or severe trauma to the spinal cord can cause very serious physical problems that could be permanent, including paralysis. There are three levels of spinal cord injury (SCI):
Cervical Injuries (near the neck):
Can cause difficulty breathing due to nerve problems affecting the lung muscles, paralysis from the point of injury down, loss of bowel and/or bladder control, pain and more. These injuries can also cause an inability to move or problems with the extremities (arms and legs).
Thoracic Injuries (around the chest level):
Can cause difficulty breathing due to nerve problems affecting the lung muscles, paralysis from the point of injury down, loss of bowel and/or bladder control, pain and more. These types of injuries can also result in blood pressure problems and problems keeping the body at a normal temperature.
Lumbar Sacral Injuries (lower back area):
Can cause lack of bowel/bladder control or digestive problems, pain, numbness, paralysis and more. The legs can be affected in injuries around this area.
Generally speaking, the higher on the spinal cord the injury is, the more function the victim will lose after the injury has been incurred. SCI usually requires corrective surgery and procedures such as traction, braces and more. In cases of "complete" SCI, the injured person could be unable to recover much function and could be require to spend the rest of his or her life in a certain level of medical care.
If you or a loved one has suffered an SCI that you believe was caused by negligence, you should speak immediately to an experienced San Diego injury attorney at the Zalkin Law Firm. You could be legally entitled to recover monetary compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage and more.
The Zalkin Law Firm could be able to offer you the help you need.